Definition

1. Adjective:

   • At a great distance: Used to describe something that is a long way away in space or time.
   • More distant of two: Used to specify the one of two things that is at a greater distance.
   • Extreme: Used to describe a political or ideological position that is very different from the mainstream or center.

2. Adverb:

   • At, to, or from a great distance: Indicates a large spatial or temporal separation.
   • To a considerable degree; very much: Used to emphasize the extent or degree of a difference or quality.
   • To a certain point or degree: Used to indicate a limit in progress, distance, or understanding.

3. Noun:

   • A great distance: Refers to a remote point or a long stretch of space or time.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • We come from a far country. (Describing a country that is distant in location.)
  • The far side of the moon is not visible from Earth. (Referring to the more distant side.)
  • He holds far-left political views. (Describing an extreme ideological position.)

• Adverb:

  • He traveled far from his hometown. (Indicating a great distance traveled.)
  • This book is far more interesting than the last one. (Emphasizing a large degree of difference.)
  • I can only understand the theory so far. (Indicating a limit in comprehension.)

Advanced Usage

• "As far as": Used to indicate the extent or limit of something.

  • As far as I know, the meeting is still scheduled. (To the limit of my knowledge.)

• "Far from": Used to emphasize that something is not the case at all; the opposite is true.

  • The project is far from complete. (It is not complete; in fact, it is very incomplete.)

• "So far": Up to the present point in time or progress.

  • So far, the weather has been perfect for our trip. (Up until now.)

• "By far": By a very large margin; used for emphasis in comparisons.

  • She is by far the most experienced candidate. (She is the most experienced by a large margin.)

Variants and Related Words

• Farther / Further (adj/adv): Comparative forms of 'far'. 'Farther' is often used for physical distance, while 'further' is used for metaphorical distance or degree.

  • We need to drive farther north. (Physical distance.)
  • We need to discuss this further. (Metaphorical extent.)

• Farthest / Furthest (adj/adv): Superlative forms of 'far'. The same distinction as above often applies.

  • The farthest planet in our solar system is Neptune. (Physical distance.)
  • This is the furthest my patience will stretch. (Metaphorical extent.)

Synonyms

• Distant: Far away in space or time.
• Remote: Far away and isolated.
• Extreme: Reaching a high or the highest degree; very great.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Far and wide: Over a large area; everywhere.

  • They searched far and wide for the missing artifact.

• A far cry from: Very different from (something).

  • This luxurious hotel is a far cry from the hostel we stayed in last year.

• Go far:

  • To achieve great success.

    • With her talent, she will go far in her career.
  • To last a long time or cover a great distance.

    • A gallon of gas doesn't go far these days.

• So far, so good: An expression meaning that things are progressing satisfactorily up to this point.

  • We've finished the first phase of the project. So far, so good.

Adjective

1. beyond a norm in opinion or actions
   • the far right
2. being the animal or vehicle on the right or being on the right side of an animal or vehicle
   • the horse on the right is the far horse
   • the right side is the far side of the horse
3. being of a considerable distance or length
   • a far trek
4. located at a great distance in time or space or degree
   • we come from a far country
   • far corners of the earth
   • the far future
   • a far journey
   • the far side of the road
   • far from the truth
   • far in the future

Adverb

1. to an advanced stage or point
   • a young man who will go very far
2. remote in time
   • if we could see far into the future
   • all that happened far in the past
3. at or to a certain point or degree
   • I can only go so far before I have to give up
   • how far can we get with this kind of argument?
4. at or to or from a great distance in space
   • he traveled far
   • strayed far from home
   • sat far away from each other
5. to a considerable degree; very much
   • a far far better thing that I do
   • felt far worse than yesterday
   • eyes far too close together

Noun

1. a terrorist organization that seeks to overthrow the government dominated by Tutsi and to institute Hutu control again
   • in 1999 ALIR guerrillas kidnapped and killed eight foreign tourists